Nathan Fisher, a 27-year-old police officer from Essex, England, went to bed feeling fine—only to wake up the next morning with the left side of his face completely paralyzed. Initially alarmed that he might be having a stroke, Fisher noted that while his smile looked “off,” he could still move his arms, so he chalked it up to fatigue.
However, the next day, his condition worsened, prompting him to call emergency services. CT and MRI scans first pointed to a transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a “mini-stroke.” But after further evaluation, doctors diagnosed him with Bell’s palsy, a neurological condition that temporarily paralyzes facial muscles. Bell’s palsy affects around 40,000 Americans annually, typically striking people between the ages of 15 and 45.
Dr. Nicholas Dragolea, a London physician, explained that Bell’s palsy can be hard to distinguish from a stroke without a thorough medical exam. One clue is forehead movement—if the forehead is unaffected, a stroke is more likely.
Fisher documented his journey on TikTok, where a video of him attempting to smile—with only half his face responding—went viral with over 5.3 million views. He spent seven weeks recovering, undergoing physical therapy and using facial massage techniques at home. He also took B12 supplements to aid nerve regeneration.
@nfisher08 Diagnosed with Bell’s palsy 🏥
♬ oh my god bruh oh hell na man
The experience deeply impacted Fisher’s mental health. “It affected me mentally as my favorite thing about myself is my smile—and then it was gone,” he said. Difficulty eating, sleeping, and the inability to fully close his eye added to the struggle.
Thankfully, Fisher has largely recovered, though he’s still working to regain full strength in his facial muscles.
Read the full story here:
https://www.newsweek.com/man-sleep-wakes-up-half-paralyzed-face-viral-video-1917555
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